LETTERS: HANG IN THERE

To the editor:

Many years ago I watched a young tennis player from Ecuador win the NCAA championship in Evanston. If and when he made a poor shot, he would take hold of himself and shout, "Vamos, (Let's go), come on, Pancho." It was like giving himself a pep talk or words of encouragement to play better. It seemed to work. He won the championship and went on to become a successful professional tennis player named Pancho Segura.

Home field or court advantage is usually not so much familiarity with the surroundings as it is from the support and cheers of encouragement from the fans. The players not only hang in there, but they begin to play with greater verve and enthusiasm.

The expression "to hang in there" is popular especially among the young. They don't exactly distinguish or explain where one should hand, but the words of encouragement to persevere are not new and are still excellent words of advice. The Apostle Paul had his Barnabas (son of encouragement) who lifted him up in his occasional low moments.

On Aug. 3, 1970, I had done some painting on my house in Garden City, N.Y. By noon I was tired, took down the ladder and put away the equipment. I decided to shower, eat a bite and take a nap. A friend called asking if I would like to go out for a game of golf. Suddenly I felt revitalized and said I could be ready in 10 minutes. I felt some discomfort in my chest but drank a few swallows of Coca-Cola and teed off. I collapsed on the third hole and was rushed to the nearby medical center. Later I learned that I had suffered a myocardial infarction. I was only semi-conscious, but I vaguely heard the voice of one of the doctors telling me to keep on fighting to breathe. "Don't quit. Keep on fighting!" His words of encouragement started me on a road to recovery, and his words of encouragement are still with me 25 years later.

A good teacher will a lot of patience and skill can given enough motivation and support to help a mediocre student improve until he or she becomes a better student. When the situation seems dark, a word of encouragement may be the ray of hope needed to persevere.

Many happy and successful families give reassurance to one another. Most of us can appreciate and use a word of support from time to time to give us a boost in life's journey. As a rule, a sincere word of encouragement does not take a lot of energy on our part, but it can bring amazing results. In certain situations, "to hand in there" may be not only motivational but lifesaving words.

IVAN H. NOTHDURFT

Cape Girardeau